Yokohama. The I.M Factory is a small place, like all Japanese bike shops. Real estate is expensive and hard to come by. Does all the good old Harley stuff go to Japan? is it a good or a bad thing? the debate rages on, it's interesting because most shops here are like this one. Nearly all of the items hanging from the walls, stuffed on shelves and sort of just lying around are 80's and 90's bits and pieces that no one wants. Those 5 gallon fat bobs, repop fenders, Bates copy headlights, Sportster mag wheels etc etc are all unloved and cheap and easy to get. They then take those parts and cut, weld and fabricate them into something special. I would also hazard a guess that more people own and ride old Harleys in Japan than any other country in the world. And they ride, all year round, in all weathers, and then they ride some more, 'cos at the end of the day isnt that what its all about right?
Well said.
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteAnd isn't better that rare parts go to people who are going to do something extraordinary with them? Better on the road on a Japanese chopper than sitting in some cool dude's display cabinet.
be in Tokyo in June, This is on my stop lit as well as a host of others....
ReplyDeletei personally think that its horrible. it makes it hard and more expensive for people like me to source nos parts, or old used pre 76 parts
ReplyDelete